LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^ 
Shelf? S 3 (o 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



3?rice, 25 Cents. 



HOW TO WIN 



JjflM I 





PLAIN DIRECTIONS FOR 



PRIZE SHOW FOWLS. 



By H. H. STODDARD, 

Editor of "The Poultry World," and "American Poultry Yard," 
Author of "An Egg Farm," "Poultry Architecture," "Brown Leghorn 
" White Leghorns," " Plymouth Rocks," Etc. 



HARTFORD, CONN. 
1879. 




■ -■■ 






HOW TO WIN 



POULTRY PRIZES 



By H. H. STODDARD 



EDITOR OF "THE POULTRY WORLD' AND "THE AMERICAN POULTRY 

YARD." AUTHOR OF "AN EGG FARM," "BROWN LEGHORNS," 

"POULTRY ARCHITECTURE," "WHITE LEGHORNS," 

"PLYMOUTH ROCKS," ETC. 






HARTFORD, CONN. 
1879. 



SF421 



PREFACE. 



Man is combative, fond of emulation, and ever on the 
alert to possess something new. These peculiarities show 
themselves in various ways : sometimes in the display of 
dress or equipage, sometimes in trials of personal strength 
or endurance, and in other cases we see only a generous 
and good-natured competition about the possession of some 
desirable and useful article of property. This rivalry often 
causes genuine improvement in live stock, and results in 
benefit to all parties concerned. 

A high civilization may unfit people for the enjoyment 
of a bull-fight, and any man with a cultivated intellect 
and good moral qualities will turn with disgust from a 
competition between men striving to "get outside" of the 
greatest number of eggs or oysters; but a refined and 
enlightened man may enjoy competition with others in the 
possession of the best horses, cattle or poultry. 

We have written this book with special reference to 
those persons — increasing in number every year — who 
have a laudable desire to win prizes in our American 
Poultry Exhibitions, and to them we respectfully submit 
its pages. 



How to Win Poultry Prizes. 



THE annual poultry exhibition in this country has come 
to be an institution among us. This is comparatively 
a new thing, although it is now thirty years since the first 
public exhibition of the kind was held in America. 

The first poultry show in England, of any prominence, 
was held at Birmingham, a year or two prior to our 
pioneer exhibition in the United States. Now these friendly 
competitive gatherings are held yearly, in both countries, in 
every State, county and district almost, where there dwell 
any considerable number of people. 

And very agreeable entertainments they have proved, 
too, as well as profitable to the managers and contributors, 
and highly pleasing to the public generally, wherever they 
chance, from time to time, to be held. In so far as their 
effect upon the character of the domestic poultry now 
cultivated in this country is seen, a large and permanent 
improvement is manifest, as every one who is acquainted 
at all with what our poultry formerly was, and now is, 
will readily admit. 

GROWTH OF POULTRY EXHIBITIONS. 

Where there were a score of exhibitors, a few years 
since, there are now a hundred, at the least. Where in 



6 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

former times but a few breeds of fowls could be shown 
(and these none of the best), we may now count our 
Standard recognized varieties by dozens. 

And while in 1849-50 we had but two or three organized 
poultry societies, whose members made up the contributions 
to all the shows in those days held, we have now one 
hundred distinct and separate organizations in this country 
— each one of which has, within the past two or three 
years, held its yearly show of fine poultry stock, at various 
points of the country — in the East, West, Middle States 
and South. 

There are presented at these fine exhibitions, from time 
to time, in the principal cities and large American towns, 
thousands of cages of elegantly-plumed and beautifully- 
formed fowls, that are the admiration and the wonder of 
crowds of citizens, who are not " chicken raisers," who 
gather in the spacious halls where these exhibits are held, 
to " see the wondrous sight ; " and to learn there, for the 
first time, how innocent or how ignorant they have been, 
previously to these visits, of the true character of first-class 
modern poultry, as it is bred at the present day among us. 

INFLUENCE OF THE SHOWS. 

A quarter of a century since, a pair of young cockerels, 
dressed and marketed for roasters, that would weigh five 
or six pounds each, fatted for the spit, were a curiosity 
among the dealers in the shambles. Today, pairs of seven 
months old Light Brahma or Cochin cockerels, that draw 
each nine or ten pounds dressed, are a common thing in 
our markets everywhere. And the quality, too, has vastly 
improved, over that of the olden time. While the following 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 7 

pages will be mostly devoted to the ornamental qualities 
of fowls, we could not refrain from saying what we have 
in favor of the fancier's influence, which, by increasing the 
interest in poultry, has placed upon the poor man's table, 
in increased quantity and better quality, at cheaper rates, 
a healthful, nutritious dish. 

Five-and-twenty years ago we had the barn-yard breeds 
wandering about the farm — of all colors and descriptions 
— but mostly these were runts, and unsightly from their 
utter lack of uniformity in color, plumage or proportions. 
Now, we have our country places dotted over with clean- 
bred flocks of superb Light Brahmas, Cochins, great Dork- 
ings, choicely-bred Games, fine Leghorns, showy Plymouth 
Rocks, beautiful Hamburgs, Polish and French fowls — all 
new in variety, and each a distinct breed, that is recog- 
nized by itself in our Standard of Excellence — and all of 
which have been bred and fostered by ambitious fanciers 
for years, with an eye to exhibiting their better specimens 
in competition for the liberal premiums offered by our 
societies at these modern poultry exhibitions. 

The author of this book has, as a matter of business, 
already given ten of the best years of his life to bring 
about the existing prosperous and improved condition of 
things now referred to. And the public poultry exhibitions, 
working hand in hand with poultry literature, have accom- 
plished the eminent success to which the poultry interest 
has now attained. 

It is the object of this little volume to explain to the 
amateur, the novice, or the inexperienced breeder, how best 
he may operate with his favorite stock, and how he may 
in the easiest way manipulate his chosen fowls to bring 



8 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

about the most desirable results in his attempts to rear 
exhibition birds. 

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF BREEDING. 

It is* only by a careful study of things which, at first 
thought, appear minute and unimportant, that the highest 
improvement may be attained in breeding. 

The rearing of fine poultry is not in itself an insignifi- 
cant matter ; but there are many details, indispensable to 
success. 

If a person starts on a journey, and the road is not 
familiar, he must needs make inquiry on the way, else 
have a chart or guide-book. To one who has not the 
advantage of experience and has not studied the matter, 
it may seem easy enough to breed high -class poultry. 
Says he: "Like produces like. If I procure a trio of 
Brahmas, Cochins or Spanish, give them good quarters, 
plenty of suitable feed, of course nature will attend to the 
breeding, and in due time I shall have a flock of fine 
chicks, like the original stock." 

Many do this very thing, and are disappointed ; not 
always, but in many instances. Why disappointed? Who 
will answer the question? The trio appeared fine — style, 
plumage, heads, combs, etc., superior. "Did you purchase 
the cock and hens of the same breeder?" 

" Oh, no ! It's against my principles to practice in- 
breeding. I purchased the cock of Mr. A., one of the 
most noted fanciers in the country. He has made a 
specialty of this breed for many years, and has taken the 
highest prizes at many of the principal exhibitions. I 
visited his yards, saw his stock, and there's no humbug 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 9 

about it. His strain is excellent ; and its excellence is the 
result of persistent patience and perseverance. I bought 
the hens of Mr. B., and he is scarcely less noted for his 
success ; besides, those hens scored high. They are prize 
fowls. But the progeny is inferior in plumage, and there 
are marked defects in other respects. 

" I paid a good price to start with, and I felt satisfied ; 
felt willing to pay those two men for what I considered 
was the result of experience and wisdom on their part. 
And I supposed that I was starting with a double team, 
just at the point where Mr. A. and Mr. B. had arrived, 
having no doubt that I should win. But now I have 
receded, instead of holding my ground. Like a horse not 
caulked, on a slippery road, trying to go on, but sliding 
back. The case is similar to that of the Ethiopian poet : 

1 Sich a getting up stairs, nebber did see, 
Get up one stair and fall down three. ' " 

Let us study this case, and see if we can account for 
such peculiar, unexpected and untoward results. Facts 
have been discovered by naturalists which hit this nail on 
the head. When two breeds dissimilar in plumage and 
other characteristics are brought together or crossed, the 
progeny will in some of the number follow the male, a 
few the female, and many neither, but break up into 
splashes and patches of color, resembling both of the 
breeds, or unlike either. This leads us to an important 
topic, towit : 

REVERSION. 

All the "breeds" or varieties were made by selection. 
The race of fowls was, in the first place, made many- 



io HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

colored by domestication, and from the tame mixed flock 
came the various breeds. Now, there is a tendency to 
revert back to what we will call the original domesticated 
flock every time you make a cross of the modern selected 
breeds. In other words, there is a scattering, when such 
cross, is made, like the colors of a kaleidoscope. The 
reversion is most striking when two breeds very dissimilar 
in color are crossed ; but the tendency to it is so strong, 
that when two strains of the same breed very similar to 
each other are united, as in the above case, false feathers 
will crop out through the influence of distant ancestry. It 
has been well proved, by many careful experiments, that 
the introduction of blood not akin gives a fresh impetus 
to the ineradicable tendency to take after remote pro- 
genitors. 

Mr. A. had bred the cock pure ; had kept for years 
within his own strain ; had reared branches of the strain 
on his own grounds, or in other yards under his own 
control ; had crossed and recrossed every year, establishing 
more firmly the standard markings, and every year sending 
out a greater number of meritorious birds. And Mr. B. 
had pursued the same course in producing the hens. 
Each breeder had a thoroughbred strain — the result of 
years — alike in standard points, yet not entirely alike in 
blood. In crossing these two strains the principle of 
reversion came in — though it had perhaps lain apparently 
dormant for generations — causing a black feather here, a 
white one there, and undesirable manifestations in other 
respects. 

It is not asserted that a cross of two distinct strains 
will invariably produce these results. But there is a 



NOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. n 

liability of a considerable number of the progeny showing 
this effect of reversion. In some instances the cock might 
possess a remarkable degree of power, and overcome, by 
his procreative force, this tendency to revert, giving his 
chicks the peculiarities of his side of the house. 

On the other hand, the peculiarities of the female 
side may be so strongly fixed by many years of systematic 
breeding, that the character of the progeny will mainly be 
determined by the hens. No doubt the more evenly 
balanced the mating in that quality commonly called pre- 
potency, the greater the liability to reversion. It is a 
fallacy that the hen builds the house and the cock paints 
it. There is no such division of labor. It is a copart- 
nership, into which both parties bring all the power, all 
the hereditary tendencies, active and dormant, of past 
generations. In one case the cock may predominate, and 
in another the hen in her line. 

GROWING THE YOUNG STOCK. 

Next to the judicious and proper mating of fowl stock, 
comes the method of growing the young birds properly, so 
that they shall prosper from the outset, and turn out the 
best of their class, when the time arrives for exhibiting. 

The process of setting hens and hatching the chicks, 
we shall devote no space to in this treatise, for the reason 
that only the operator who is somewhat advanced in a 
knowledge of these ordinary details in fowl breeding should 
attempt the more difficult task of raising show birds. And 
% if the poulterer has not previously acquired a familiarity 
with the first rudiments of chicken raising, he . is not 
competent to undertake the other experiment. 



12 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

Given the chickens hatched out safely, and we are 
ready to proceed to make the most of the younglings. 

For six or eight weeks after their hatching no one can 
decide what the young birds may be at maturity. But, 
from the shell, whatever portion of the young stock is 
intended "to be reared for exhibition birds, should be fed 
and managed with the nicest care. We have found that 
their first feed (for three or four weeks) is best if com- 
posed of cooked ingredients, invariably. Dry crumbs of 
stale bread, hard-boiled eggs, thoroughly boiled potatoes, 
and fine corn-meal — in equal parts — are an excellent 
aliment for the first month. This food should be given 
them half a dozen times in a day during this term. And 
if milk can be used, instead of water, to cook this food 
in, it will be much the better for them. Boiled rice and 
boiled whole wheat are also an admirable alternate dish. 
And green food of some kind, in constant supply, is a 
desideratum. 

If the young birds are hatched out at the season of 
the year when the tender grass is starting, a run upon 
the greensward will improve them rapidly. When they are 
past four weeks of age, cooked meat and vegetables, 
mixed, may be given them daily, in small quantity, to 
great advantage. 

During this early period the chicks must be kept 
absolutely exempt from vermin, or they can not thrive. 
This provision is all-important, be it observed. And the 
hen-mother should also be carefully watched, and con- 
stantly, too, in order that lice may not gather upon her, 
body, and so be communicated to her brood. 

By the end of the first or second month the sexes of 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 13 

the chicks can be determined, and ordinarily the general 
color of the plumage can then be seen. The rapidity of 
development depends upon the breed. But with the 
Brahmas and Cochins we can not begin to cull the flock 
until they are three months old, or more. By that time 
the experienced fancier can decide very nearly how many 
prospective show birds he has been fortunate in securing, 
for the extra trouble he has been at, thus far in the 
year. In case of Plymouth Rocks "you can't most always 
sometimes tell " what they will make till four or five 
months. 

Then follows the culling process. This should be done 
fearlessly. Out of a hundred chickens hatched, ordinarily 
twenty per cent, of the flock, or less, can only be counted 
on for future show birds. If but ten first-class fowls of 
a hundred can be brought up, that are prime specimens 
in all respects — in color, symmetry, good size, form and 
station — that wear a good (we won't say perfect) comb 
of their kind ; that are well feathered upon the legs (if 
Brahmas or Cochins) ; that have neither hollow back, 
wry-tail, twisted wing-flights, high hip, show of vulture 
hock, spotted plumage, etc. — this proportion of the hun- 
dred will pay the raiser of such fowls very handsomely 
for his year's work. The other ninety chickens may be 
used, many of them, for breeders, and the rest will answer 
for table use satisfactorily. 

From three months to six months old, the chickens 
hatched in March or April will come into warm weather 
well formed in size and in fine average condition ; and 
during their first summer they will grow and thrive aston- 
ishingly, if cared for as we have herein recommended. 



14- HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

The one-fifth or one-tenth of the flock set aside as the 
finest and most promising for future use in the show- 
room, will henceforth require a continuance of extra 
attention; while the rest — that are not made broilers, 
roasters, or breeders of, as the case may be — can be 
allowed during the summer months, comparatively, to take 
care of themselves, if they can have unlimited range 
outside of their houses. 

Your ten or fifteen prospective show chicks should 
every day be fed upon system, and with sound, nutritious 
food. They must not be fattened, however, at present. 
In the morning give them the warm cooked meal-and- 
potatoes mash. At noon cracked corn and whole wheat, 
or buckwheat occasionally. At night whole corn, with 
crushed bone and a small allowance of broken scraps — 
the latter not more than three times a week. Two or 
three times alternately in a week a dish of cooked coarse 
meat, such as harslets, or fish heads boiled up, will help 
their growth and aid digestion. And of any of all this 
variety of feed never throw before them more at a time 
than they will eat up clean. This plan saves unnecessary 
waste, and keeps the birds in by far the best condition. 

Of course, it is understood that our fowls must be 
regularly supplied with fresh, pure water daily for drink. 
The allowance of milk also, in part, for the show birds, 
so long as it can be handily furnished them, will be a 
very good thing. They should have a roomy, dry, gravelly 
run, ample bath-boxes, and all this, of course. Without 
these provisions no fowls will keep in good health or grow 
well, however carefully they be fed and tended. 

The author of these pages is aware that many readers 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 15 

of his book will exclaim that " all this kind of attention 
and care ought to pay the man who bestows it upon his 
birds ! " So it should. And so it will. But we are now 
writing of what we understand perfectly. And to such 
readers we say, with emphasis, if you desire to raise the 
very best fowls for exhibition purposes, and wish to own 
and show the choicest samples, in competition beside the 
contributions of our old fanciers of the present day, then 
you must thus attend to your work, and thoroughly, or 
you can not hope to be a winner among the crowd of 
well-posted breeders who do this very thing, year after 
year, as we have done it in past seasons, and as we now 
in detail recommend this method. What is worth doing 
at all, is worth doing well. No sloven can succeed with 
fowls. 

"But all this entails a deal of trouble," urges another 
easy-goer. So it does, my friend. And if you expect to 
get on in this peculiar branch of fancy poultry raising 
without trouble, and labor, and thought, and care — -from 
the day your chicks are hatched down to the hour when 
you ship them to the show, where you aim to win first 
and second prizes, nowadays — you entirely mistake your 
business, and should not attempt to " beat " your more 
active, enterprising, sensible neighbors, who do thus attend 
to the work, and who will continue, as hitherto, to carry 
off the palm you covet. 

With this gentle reminder, in passing, we will now 
leave the three or four months old chicks to grow and 
nourish, under your care or that of your competitor, until 
fall, while we proceed further to point out "what we know 
about" the secrets of rearing show fowls to advantage. 



1 6 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

CARE OF EXHIBITION FOWLS. 

Show birds are always expected to be put before the 
public, when placed in competition, in their very best 
condition. And the measures necessary to bring the stock 
up to its highest state of perfection in beauty, cleanliness 
of plumage and general attractiveness, are quite legitimate, 
but are not in all cases so well understood by those Who 
have good birds to show as these rules of preparation 
may and ought to be. We, therefore, propose to offer 
here some hints to the uninitiated on the subject of pre- 
paring to exhibit to the best possible advantage. 

We take our selected birds — -those which four or five 
months previously we picked from our flocks, for the pur- 
pose now in contemplation — and, from the score or less 
of these first-class samples, we now choose two or three 
pairs or trios which we intend to exhibit four or six 
weeks later in the season. 

A special pen or house should be appropriated to the 
use of these birds for the next five or six weeks. The 
floor of this pen should be covered with clean dry sand 
two inches deep, and the birds should be allowed the 
most nutritious feed attainable, while they are now con- 
fined for a brief term. 

The cocks must be kept by themselves, and the pullets 
also by themselves, during this term of preparation, in 
order that the plumage of both sexes may not be torn, 
ruffled, or disfigured. They should be supplied with clean 
fresh water every day, their premises should be thoroughly 
ventilated also constantly, and their food should be of 
sound grains, cooked meat and vegetables, with but little 
"green" feed (lest they scour); and at no time should 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 17 

they be given more than they will eat up clean for the 
meal, since sour or stale feed is particularly injurious. 

They must not be gorged, lest they grow fat and 
listless. They must not be over-fed, lest they get cloyed, 
and lose their needful appetite. But they should be fur- 
nished with all they will eat, regularly three times daily, 
and no more. Thus they will not lose in "condition" — 
an important consideration, when they come to be placed 
under the eye of the critical judge. 

The best staple food we have ever known to be used 
at this brief period is rice boiled in milk, for one meal 
of soft feed daily. Whole wheat thus boiled is also 
excellent. Potatoes boiled and mashed with either of these 
grains — say, half-and-half — is best of all. 

There are no kinds of seed like those of the sunflower 
for giving to the plumage the rich, brilliant gloss that is 
so attractive and beautiful in the show-pen. Hemp seed 
and buckwheat will help to effect this ; but the sunflower's 
unctious composition seems much the best adapted for this 
purpose. But either of these oily seeds should be used 
with moderation, and but a little daily (with their dry 
grain feed) will be amply sufficient to effect the desired 
object, without causing a relaxing of the bowels, which 
trouble, under this high feeding, must always be guarded 
against with care. Feed meat sparingly. 

FINAL PREPARATIONS. 

The suggestions thus far offered in this work will 
apply generally to all kinds of fowls, and more especially 
to white or //^/-plumed birds. The principal object in 
placing these specimens in clean, dry quarters for a few 



1 8 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

weeks just before show time is that their feathers shall 
first be purified from stains, or discolorations, and then 
kept perfectly clean until after exhibiting. 

We have known White Leghorn and White Cochin 
fowls to be disqualified in the pens for showing "foul 
feathers," of a brownish or dusky hue, in small spots — 
which alleged false feathers were simply stains on the 
otherwise fair bodies of the birds, and were washed off 
after the decisions had been made and the judge had 
departed — in the presence of the executive committee, to 
whom the unlucky contributor appealed too late ! 

All this may be avoided, but it • must be carefully 
attended to, or the delicately white plumage will quickly 
show the neglect to attend to this simple requirement. 

Three days before the show opens in which you at 
last intend to enter your stock, the light-colored or white 
fowls may be washed all over, to advantage — if the owner 
knows how to do this. (See page 37 for full description). 

HOW TO WIN PRIZES. 

First of all, the way to insure the winning of premiums 
at fowl-shows, is to deserve the awards. If the plans we 
here describe are persistently and faithfully followed out, 
from inception to conclusion — the man who goes into 
the shows with such birds as he may in this way rear, 
ought to win. 

But this does not always follow ! And why ? 

We will come to that, gentle reader, by and by. 

It is all-important that the fancier who aims to win 
the prizes should contribute first-class samples of the breeds 
he favors. The birds should be placed on exhibition 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 19 

in their very best trim in all respects. The American 
Standard of Excellence should be his guide for the pro- 
duction of these birds, and he should breed up as nearly 
to perfection in symmetry, size, form, color, station and 
generally requisite points of superiority, as it is possible 
for him to attain in respect of the varieties he culti- 
vates. 

If he will accept our advice, we counsel him not to 
attempt to do too much. It is by far the better plan 
— and the chances are vastly in his favor, if he will 
believe and act upon this hint — that he should breed 
only one variety, and but a dozen or a score of these 
that are A 1 birds, than that he should attempt quantity 
before quality, and so achieve only mediocrity in all. 

Breed good birds, then, if you can, and exhibit only 
such. Thus you may earn the coveted prizes. 

CAGING FOR THE SHOWS. 

The societies provide a uniform style of show-cage, at 
a nominal rental, for all who desire to be thus accom- 
modated in the exhibition rooms. These cages are light, 
roomy and comfortable, and are very generally in use at 
the present day. If a contributor wishes to put into 
his cages a larger number of birds than these ordinary 
sized coops are arranged for — a "breeding-pen," for 
instance, or otherwise — his own taste will suggest the 
proper dimensions for this purpose. If cages are painted 
on the inside — for white-bodied birds a dark green or 
brown, and for dark-colored birds a pure white are the 
best tints to serve as a back-ground to " show off " the 
inmates of the coop to greatest advantage. 



20 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

TRANSPORTATION TO THE HALLS. 

Fowls almost universally are transported to the show- 
halls by express, over railroads. Largely, as it happens, 
our exhibitions are held in mid-winter — when the atmos- 
phere is very cold. And here we must suggest caution 
in the method of shipping, lest the high, thin combs of 
many varieties — more especially cocks — will be frost-bitten 
en route. 

Cover each coop entirely with coarse bagging, or thick 
cotton canvas, outside. If the fowls are to pass but a 
single night on the rail, this precaution is indispensable. 
If the weather is excessively cold, a sheet of coarse brown 
paper tacked on, under the canvas covering, upon three 
sides of the cage, will answer best as a protection against 
the insidious assaults of Jack Frost, while the fowls are 
going to and from the shows, in our bleak winter climate. 

IN THE EXHIBITION ROOM. 

Go to the shows yourself, or send a trusty man, in 
company with your stock, if this be convenient. You 
may confide in the proffered services of managers who 
offer in their printed schedules to " receive and care for 
all fowls consigned to their exhibitions in a faithful man- 
ner," etc., if you choose to do so. Many contributors 
adopt this course — and take their chances. The officials 
mean well, and they strive to do what they agree to 
do, usually, in this direction. But 

Well, we recommend every one who enters fine stock 
at our shows, anywhere, to be on the spot in person 
when his birds reach the hall. He will then know how 
well his contribution is cared for, and he (or his imme- 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 21 

diate representative) may be able to choose a position in 
the hall more acceptable than might be accorded to his 
cages, were he but a small contributor and absent from 
the scene. It is fully "one-half the battle," oftentimes, in 
instances where sharp competition occurs, for the owners 
of prime fowls to be " around when the ball opens ! " 

FEEDING THE BIRDS AT SHOWS. 

Provision is made by all well-regulated poultry associ- 
ations to feed, water and care for the stock contributed 
to their annual exhibitions, while the fowls are confined 
within their halls. If contributors are content with the 
bill of fare accorded by ordinary regulations, at such times, 
it is well. If not — and there are many who prefer to 
attend to all this themselves — then a card upon your 
coops requesting the attendants "not to feed these birds" 
will be complied with. 

Generally speaking, the poultry have a goodly allowance 
of food — such as it is. But at very few shows do we 
meet with any provision by the managers for supplying 
the birds with gravel and green stuff, while they are 
cooped up for a week or ten days in a hot room, and 
then, if ever, need these things to assist their digestion 
of the dry, hard grains they are fed upon continually. 

If these are not provided by the society, the humane 
owners of fowls should see to it, every day, that their 
pent-up fowls are supplied with cabbage-leaves or turnips, 
and clean gravel, with a little raw, lean beef in addition 
to their green feed. These will ward off sickness, in a 
great measure, and help to keep the birds in good 
condition for the time being. 



22 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

JUDGES AT EXHIBITIONS. 

These gentlemen have an irksome and disagreeable 
duty to perform, as a rule ; and many of them, though 
they aim to do their level best in the role assigned them, 
fail to give satisfaction, and as frequently not only 
disappoint reasonable expectations, but compel the verdict 
that they are incompetent, prejudiced or partial in their 
decisions. 

Now, this fact is patent, and we trust that no man, 
or men, will rise up and exclaim, "Is it IV or, "Do 
you thus allude to w<?, Mr. Author ? " because we now 
speak in very general terms, and intend no personal 
allusions to any one. Nevertheless, there is a just line 
of conduct for these arbiters to pursue ; and, beyond 
this, there are the rights of the whole poultry fraternity 
involved, which we, as editor, and they, as umpires, are 
bound in honor to respect. 

To illustrate our point, we recur to one instance that 
chanced to come under our notice at a show, not two 
years since. 

There were on exhibition a few very fine cages of a 
certain popular variety, with one of the contributors in 
which class we entered into a brief chat, something in 
this wise : 

" Mr. , you have a splendid trio or two of 

fowls here." 

"Yes," he responded, modestly, "they are considered' 
very fine." 

" You ought to win with them, clearly. You've surely 
got the birds ? " 

"Yes, I reckon I've got the birds," he continued, 



BOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 23 

dubiously. And pointing to another coop near by, con- 
taining palpably inferior samples, he added, "I can't win, 
though. The other man yonder has got the judge, on 
this breed ! " 

And so it proved, The " other man " won first and 
second — as the humbler contributor predicted he would. 

Judges are prone to overlook the real merits of certain 
contributions too often, when the fowls are not the property 
oi officials, friends, partisans, or favorites. This is a 
shame. "We speak of it because we are obliged to do so, 
and should speak of it oftener did we not dread the task 
so much. Some judges are prejudiced in favor of par- 
ticular strains of stock that have deservedly won prizes 
for years. Some incline to favor certain fowls shown 
because they are known to be entered by some prominent 
breeder. Some will give the palm to the birds of an 
associate judge, who enters a variety different from his 
own birds which he contributes in that class, while he is 
himself the judge upon those entered by his fellow-judge. 
This is facetiously called the " You-tickle-me-and-I'll-tickle- 
you" system of "judging!" 

There are other modes of beating the innocent and 
unpretending (but oftentimes meritorious) contributor, that 
are even less honorable and less equitable than are those 
we have mentioned. But we have not the appetite, even if 
we had the space, to pursue this theme now. We have 
but briefly referred to the wrong considered, with a view 
to put judges upon their guard against these unrighteous 
usages, and at the same time to inform the uninitiated 
what they may be called upon, perhaps, to contend with, 
from time to time. 



24 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

The evils mentioned will correct themselves, no doubt, 
eventually. And, meanwhile, lesser contributors at the 
shows should "keep their eyes open," and continue to 
"put their best foot foremost," every time, in their efforts 
to win through indisputable merit The day will come 
when all these abuses will be "played out." And the 
sooner this time arrives, the better will it be for all 
concerned. 

AFTER THE EXHIBITION. 

When all is over, and the lucky and unlucky competi- 
tors have learned the fate of their contributions, for the 
time being, let it not be forgotten that the fowls have 
been shut up in a hot hall for a number of days — or 
a week, it may be — and that they are now to be brought 
forth into the frigid night air, to be transported back to 
their owners' premises, perhaps with the thermometer rang- 
ing at, or several degrees below, zero. 

This is a trying ordeal for any kind of fowls, and 
especially is it hazardous to the future well-being of the 
Leghorns, the Black Spanish, the Dorkings, the single- 
combed Cochins, the Plymouth Rocks, etc. If they have 
escaped freezing their combs during the first journey, 
now is the time to look out for the second period of 
jeopardy. 

Cover the cages up carefully with the canvas or mat- 
ting, as in the first instance, and get them all home into 
their comfortable quarters at the earliest hour possible 
after the show closes. Release them upon the earthy 
floor and watch what follows. Note how earnestly they 
go to burrowing in the sand. How busy they are in 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 25 

picking out the gritty substances they find around them, 
and how eagerly they gulp down the particles of shell, 
flint and granite that they have been deprived of so 
long ! 

Feed them wisely now for a month at the least. If 
they are to be carried away in a week or two to some 
other distant exhibition — as winners usually are — the 
nicest care must be taken of them in the interim between 
the shows. If not, put the hens on a low diet for thirty 
days, commencing with their first feed after returning to 
their quarters. 

Cooked bran and turnips mashed, for a morning feed, 
and oats and barley only, for dry food, for the following 
month. The fatty, meaty tissue you have forced upon 
them, in their prior five or six weeks extra feeding, must 
be reduced directly, or you get no eggs from them fit to 
set or for hatching, remember. And if these winners or 
show fowls are your breeders, they are in very poor plight 
(in this artificial condition) upon returning from the shows 
to furnish you with eggs suitable for incubating purposes. 

RESTORATION AT LAST. 

With all your efforts for their comfort and benefit, 
fowls that are exposed to the extremes of heat and ■ cold 
in the halls and while upon the way, to and fro, will get 
ill, more or less. If they escape an attack of roup, 
diarrhoea, or canker — most common ails at such times 
among high-fed fowls — they will frequently exhibit lassi- 
tude, loss of appetite, effects of cold in the head or 
limbs, or other temporary troubles that call for careful 
treatment. 



26 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

Into the drink supplied them now drop a pinch of 
ground ginger or cayenne pepper daily. Or, every other 
day, alternate these with a few drops of tincture of iron. 
Feed with their hot bran-mash a little " Egg-Food " twice 
a week — an excellent alterative — for a while. 

Keep them in the sunshine now. Give them daily 
ventilation of their houses. Scatter fresh hay, cut short, 
around the floor for them to peck at. They will eat 
this eagerly. Chop up cooked meat and boiled fish occa- 
sionally to regale them with. But all the time feed lightly, 
until they come up well into their former natural, healthy, 
thrifty condition. 

By the first of March all will be well again. Keep 
up the early matings. The hens will begin to lay more 
vigorously by this time. The eggs will be fertile. 

As the days begin to lengthen, 

And the warmth begins to strengthen, 

the peep of the "coming winners" for another season 
may be heard from beneath the motherly sitter's wings, 
who has been busy for one-and-twenty days in her early 
spring duty. 

Treat these new-comers as we have advised you to 
treat the last year's birds, now grown to maturity. If 
the latter have won the prizes you went for at the recent 
season's shows, you are lucky, and will find yourself 
rewarded for the pains dutifully and wisely taken to 
produce such superior stock. 

If not — and you return home disappointed at being 
beaten by John, Thomas or William, on this occasion — 
then " up and at them again ! " the coming year. 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 27 

PARTRIDGE COCHINS. 

The successful breeding of Partridge Cochins is cer- 
tainly something very desirable to be attained. It does 
not require much thought on the part of the breeder 
who desires only large birds, to produce such, provided 
he secures his breeding stock from some of the well- 
known breeders (that produce large fowls without regard 
to matings). For such matings we should select large 
and good Cochin-shaped hens, which, placed with a cock 
with equally good Cochin shape, will produce all that we 
desire. But the poultry fancier of today, who has turned 
his attention to the beautiful Partridge Cochins, is not 
satisfied with the above result, and is aiming to show his 
brother fancier the modern Partridge Cochin that attracts 
so much attention in the show-room. To breed any 
variety to feather is a very great and difficult under- 
taking, and, if attained, will be the result of many years 
of careful study and watchfulness. We often see a breeder 
exhibit one very fine specimen, or perhaps a pair or trio 
of fine birds ; but, after close questioning, we find that 
they were not his own breeding, but have been purchased 
from some celebrated fancier of long experience. We at 
once turn our attention from the exhibitor to the breeder 
who has shown such good judgment in his matings. The 
breeder that commands our respect is the man who can 
show us ( as we visit his yards ) a fine flock of both 
cockerels and pullets, the get of the cock that has been 
selected with great care. Partridge Cochins, by nearly all 
breeders, are considered the most difficult of all the parti- 
colored breeds to bring to the recognized show standard. 
This may be traced to the fact that the early Partridge 



2% HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

Cochin cocks were undoubtedly brown-breasted. The 
means of overcoming the great difficulty of breeding these 
beauties appear to be understood by some of our fanciers,, 
but the great mass of breeders are wholly at a loss to 
know how to mate to produce the desired results, which 
are finely-colored cockerels and neatly-penciled pullets. To 
obtain the best results with this variety there must be two 
matings : one to produce males, and a different one for 
females, that will be approved by the present Standard. 
Many fanciers are not yet ready to admit this ; but to 
our mind the following rules will hold good, if we really 
wish to obtain fine exhibition birds : if we desire to 
perfect a fine strain of cockerels, we should look jirst to 
the breeding-cock, and see that he possesses all the 
required Cochin characteristics — such as good symmetry; 
small and evenly-serrated comb ; broad and beautiful 
saddle ; fluff very full and abundant ; wings that are 
well tucked up ; tail carried very low ( soft and free from 
any quill-feathers, if a possible thing) ; shanks and feet 
to be well feathered, and we must not for a moment over- 
look the middle toe, which must also be well feathered. 

When we are fully assured that we have all of the 
above points, we must turn our attention to the color of 
the bird. Must have the breast, fluff and leg-feathering 
all solid black ; the hackle should be a fine orange-red, 
and toward the front should be very dark ; the saddle 
should be very much the same color ; the stripe of both 
hackle and saddle feathers should be a jet black. The 
females for this yard should have small heads ; combs 
that are small and fine ; hackle to be a rich orange ; 
ground-color to be a dark, handsome brown. A broad 



HOW TO WIN POUITRY PRIZES. 29 

and ample cushion is most to be desired, the penciling 
being a deeper brown, to be very fine, and to nearly 
cover the ground-color upon the breast and flat of the 
wings. The secondary quills will be very black ; and it is 
well that the cushion be so dark as to be hardly distin- 
guishable from black. White in the cock's tail or wings, 
or even in the feet feathering, must not be used in a 
yard for cockerels ; nor should we use a cock with any 
white in our pullet yards. It will be necessary, in breed- 
ing pullets, to have quite a different type of bird — the 
cock for this pen should, of course, have the same 
Cochin characteristics as to symmetry, etc., as the yard 
for cockerels. We do not care to see fluff and breast 
a solid black, but rather prefer to have a good propor- 
tion of brown or red — think when the feathers are laced 
with red, it is much better than to have the whole 
feather of a solid brown or red — the hackle and saddle 
to be a bright, handsome orange (but not so dark as for 
cockerels), the dark red being a great objection in pullets 
as breeders. The females for this pen should have bright 
orange-colored heads and hackles, the dark color running 
well up upon the head ; the hackles may vary somewhat. 
If she be an exhibition bird, it should be striped with 
solid black ; but for a breeder it will not matter if it be 
quite well penciled ; the ground-color of the body must 
be a handsome shade of light brown, or approaching a 
little toward the buff ; the center of the breast and flat 
of the wing must be very accurately penciled with perfect 
semicircles so dark in color as to be discernible when 
standing some distance from the bird ; the back should 
be well penciled, but we do not expect to find that even 



30 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

penciling that we get upon the breast — the cushion to 
be well penciled, so as to nearly cover the ground-color ; 
short secondary quill also to be well penciled. A pullet 
that is not penciled well up under the throat must not 
be expected to produce those that are. If we have the 
dark penciling and the handsome body-color that we have 
mentioned, such a mating can not fail to bring us good 
birds. 

BUFF COCHINS. 

have not gained in popularity in this country as rapidly 
as the variety of the Cochin group previously described. 
Yet, when well bred, their rich buff plumage is pleasing, 
if not so attractive as that of the Partridge Cochins. 

The difficulties to be overcome in breeding are pale 
or faded feathers, white tail and depreciation in weight. 
A small, slender, weakly Cochin is an object not attrac- 
tive, even if the plumage is unexceptionable. 

We desire a full cushion, covering the tail almost 
completely, an abundant fluff, and legs standing well apart, 
as if sustaining great weight. They should look ponder- 
ous, if this expression is allowable in speaking of birds. 

In mating, only specimens of good size should be used. 
The cock should have a full and rather dark buff color, 
especially on the tail and wings, and from the middle of 
the back, toward the tail, the body should be wide, 
carrying a very heavy saddle, and rising full-feathered and 
dome -like to the stern ; tail-coverts chestnut, and the 
tail preferably a very dark chestnut. Thighs should be 
stout and well covered with rich buff color, extending in 
soft plumage down the outside of the shank and covering 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 31 

the outside and middle toes. The saddle and lower part 
of hackle should have long-pointed, abundant plumage, 
with full buff color : and it should be borne in mind 
that any mealy appearance in the wings is very objec- 
tionable. 

The breeding hens for such a cock should have rather 
small heads, combs and wattles, short necks, rich buff 
color ; and for the rest, we should use the term fullness, 
in speaking of cushion, fluff and all the apparent plum- 
age, not forgetting the full fledging of legs on outside 
and the middle toe. We need only to see a hint as to 
the whereabout of the tail. 

It is not wise to use a Buff Cochin, of either sex, as 
breeder, that is faded in appearance. Such birds should 
be rejected without hesitation. A cock with black plumage 
in tail and wings, mated with standard hens, may produce 
valuable pullets. The objects in every mating should be 
to sustain color and size. In order to accomplish our 
purpose, the breeding stock should be two years old, and 
have held well to color — being well developed, yet not 
allowed to get over-fat. Such stock will produce chicks 
that will have better constitutions and attain a larger 
growth than those produced from younger birds. This 
remark is a trite one, applicable to all varieties of 
poultry. 

WHITE COCHINS. 

For many years this beautiful variety of Cochins, among 
the American fanciers, has been somewhat neglected. We 
suppose for no other reason than that the great care 
necessary for their fine appearance has, in the minds of 



32 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

many, been the means of turning their attention toward 
the other varieties of this class. Owing a great deal 
to location, and in many cases to the soil in certain 
localities, the number of persons that can breed any 
variety of white fowls with success must be limited. 
Were not this the case, no variety of the Asiatics would 
have more enthusiastic admirers than the White Cochins. 
For many years we did not see the cocks showing that 
fine symmetry and beautiful carriage that is peculiar to 
the Buff and Partridge varieties, and in many yards they 
fell much below the Buff and Partridge in weight. 
Though we have often seen these objectionable points 
in the cocks, the females many times will surpass the 
other varieties in the beautiful points of cushion, fluff 
and feather. During the exhibition seasons of 1874-5-6- 
7-8-9 we have seen a very marked improvement in the 
number of Whites exhibited ; not only have they been 
out in larger numbers, but the quality of the birds has 
been much superior to the former exhibitions. We feel 
that this is owing very largely to the efforts of a few 
of our leading fanciers of this variety, who have done 
so much to bring them to the point they so richly 
deserved in the show-room. 

The large exhibits of Mr. W. T. Fenton, of Indian- 
apolis, Ind., at the exhibitions of the Indiana State 
Society — also at the La Fayette Exhibition, and at the 
National Exhibition, held at Chicago, 1878 — were very 
much admired by fanciers from all parts of the country, 
and we believe the gentleman has well earned the title 
of "White Cochin King of America." The cock Henry 
(3833), exhibited for several seasons past by Mr. Fenton, 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 33 

has been pronounced by many of the best judges of this 
variety to be the best White Cochin cock ever exhibited 
in this country. We do not suppose there is a Cochin 
of any of the varieties that has taken so many premiums 
as this bird. While owned in Connecticut and exhibited 
by Mr. Geo. W. Mitchell, of Bristol, he was the first- 
premium bird at the Massachusetts State Show held at 
Boston, January, 1877 ; Central Connecticut, held at Bristol, 
December, 1876 ; Great Consolidated Exhibition of the 
New England Societies, held at Springfield, Mass., Feb- 
ruary, 1876 ; Western Massachusetts, held at Northampton, 
January, 1876. He was also the first-premium bird at 
the Connecticut State Show held at Hartford, January, 
1878. Together with Mr. Fenton, we find J. J. Berry, 
of Hackensack, N. J.; M. I. Ellis, Norwood, Mass.; G. 
W. Mitchell, of Bristol, Conn., all of whom have done 
a great deal toward improving this beautiful variety. 

For real beauty of plumage, there are but very few of 
the standard varieties of fowls that equal the Whites ; and 
on a spring or summer day, as we look out upon a fine 
grass-run, there is nothing more gratifying than to see a 
fine flock of this variety. They at once strike the eye 
as beauties, and we often wonder why people that have 
fine village homes with beautiful grass lawns do not 
breed them simply as an ornament ; for as the stranger, 
and even the neighbor, passes, they would be the one 
thing to be admired. Aside from the pure white plum- 
age, there are many other points which this breed should 
possess. In these days of fine fowls we must have all 
the Cochin characteristics in this variety, as well as in 
the Buffs and Partridge. Clear white plumage is the 



34 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

great thing to be aimed at ; but young breeders will be 
very much disappointed in their young stock, if they do 
not study well the balance of the fine points required 
by the Standard. In choosing our breeding-cock, we 
must look well to the pure white plumage mentioned, for 
in visiting the different yards we will find that there are 
several shades of White in Cochins, and we must always 
be on the lookout to select the richest white ; and 
should we desire to purchase old birds, we must see that 
they have retained the pure white after they have moulted, 
for we often find many cocks that will moult yellow on 
the back and wings. This is sometimes seen in the 
cockerels, and such birds should be at once cast to one 
side. Birds, either old or young, that are found marked 
with yellow in the hackle, share the same fate. After 
we have found the color desired, we must look well to 
the symmetry and general carriage of the cock. The 
head should be small, for so large a bird, and very fine ; 
comb, small and perfectly straight and upright, firm on 
the head and well and evenly serrated ; beak, short and 
stout and bright yellow in color ; good, rich, flowing 
hackle ; short, broad back, with a gentle rise from the 
middle thereof to the tail, and with saddle-feathers very 
abundant ; breast and body, deep, broad and full ; wings 
should be small, and well folded under the secondaries, 
so as to entirely cover the wings when closed ; tail, 
broad and soft, and carried very low ; shanks that are 
stout, short, yellow in color and wide apart, heavily 
feathered, and the middle toe also to be well feathered. 
The hens and pullets are not so liable to be yellow 
about the back and wings, but still it will be found in 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 35 

many yards that the color of plumage is not as would 
be desired for breeding. Always select such as are pure 
white, or your labor will be as good as lost, should you 
expect to get fine exhibition specimens from such yards. 

Breeding-hens should be large in frame, the head 
should be small and neat ; beak, short, stout, and rich 
yellow in color ; comb, small and fine, with small and 
well-defined serrations ; neck, short, the hackle-feathers 
reaching well over the shoulders ; back, broad and the 
cushion rising from the middle thereof and partially 
covering the tail ; breast, broad and carried rather low ; 
body, broad, round and deep ; wings, small and the 
primaries well folded under, the points well covered by 
the fluff; fluff, very abundant and soft, giving the bird a 
very deep appearance ; legs and feet to be well feathered, 
same as the male bird. 

In breeding fine exhibition birds it is always desirable 
to breed from birds that have moulted once ; but if 
obliged to breed from cockerels, they should always be 
mated with old hens, and if we desire to use the pullets 
for breeders, they should be placed with yearling cocks. 
After writing on the subject of mating and rearing White 
Cochins, it seems very suitable to mention the methods 
and precautions necessary in the immediate preparation 
for the show-room. The remarks are applicable, not only 
to White Cochins, but to all other light-colored varieties. 
Indeed, birds of any color are all the better in appear- 
ance for being clea?i. Some soils give to white plumage 
a red tinge, somewhat the nature of a lye ; but generally, 
soap and water will effect a cleansing. At this stage of 
our work we desire health and cleanliness. 



36 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

The little white chicks are very beautiful, and are 
very much admired as they grow into larger birds and 
as the time approaches for the last moult of the season. 
The next object will be to keep them a pure, rich 
white ; and in order to do this, they must be kept from 
the sun as much as possible. They should be placed in 
well-shaded runs, or given proper shelter of some kind. 
If not able to give them such runs as are desirable, the 
cock-birds should be driven into the fowl-house during 
the time the sun shines hottest, and it will be found 
that the fine white plumage will be very much better on 
birds that are so treated. At about this age of the 
chicks we find that the exhibition season is fast approach- 
ing and particular attention must be given to the feeding. 
Birds that have been penned up will need great care 
that they do not receive over-feed ; it is always better to 
have a little appetite to spare. All the flesh that can 
be put upon a bird is not what is desired. We have 
known many fine fat Cochins that did not win in the 
show-room, simply for the reason that the competing 
birds, though smaller, were much better in condition of 
plumage. For several weeks previous to the exhibitions, 
soft food should be given for breakfast, also a little of 
the same at noon ; a little chopped meat (cooked) should 
be given daily. Several times during the week a little 
linseed should be stewed and added to the soft food. 
A little hempseed given with the evening meal will also 
help to add luster to the plumage. Sulphate of iron 
should be given in the drinking-water, which will bring 
out nicely the red in the comb and wattles. Should not 
use the sulphate oftener than every other day. As far 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 37 

as feeding is concerned, nothing more will be required,, 
aside from the evening feed of grain and the green food, 
that should be given every day. Rice, boiled in milk,, 
given several times during the we^k previous to an. 
exhibition, will do much to prevent purging. 

After giving the birds the very best of care, they 
will not win with close competition if the plumage is 
not perfectly free from dirt, which should never be 
allowed upon any exhibition bird with, which we expect 
to win. 

The success of many of our noted fanciers has 
depended largely upon the excellent washing that their 
birds have received. . We remember well hearing one 
noted breeder of Whites remark that he felt almost sure 
to win with them when in fine condition of plumage ; 
and this confidence was obtained by first giving perfect 
attention to feeding and always washing the exhibition 
birds before each show. The washing should always be 
done from twelve to twenty-four hours before shipping 
the birds. Take an ordinary wash-tub that is large 
enough to take in the cock-birds without injury to the 
tail and that will give plenty of room for work. Fill 
the tub with warm water (not hot) so that the bird, 
when placed in the tub, will be covered on the back 
and well up on to the neck. Use pure white soap and 
rub in the water until you have a good suds. Then 
rub the bird well with the soap on all the' dirty parts, 
which you will see very plainly when the bird is wet. 
Rub the feathers hard, as it will do them no harm 
as long as you do not rub hard enough to break them. 
After having cleaned the back and wings well, rub the 



$S HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

hand among the fluff and breast feathers. Do not try 
any half-way washing. Be sure that the bird is put well 
under the water, leaving only the head out. Have no 
fear for the tail or any part of the feathers, for they 
will all come right. Before the washing, provide a 
second tub, filled with clear, cold water, so that the bird 
will be covered same as in the tub of warm water. Do 
not be afraid of the cold water, for they will not take 
cold, as the cold water closes all of the pores of the 
body. When the bird is quite clean, place in the tub 
of cold water and rinse thoroughly, until you are sure 
the soap is all out of the feathers. With this part of 
the work great care must be takeri ; for if the soap is 
not all out, the feathers will not rub well. 

After rinsing thoroughly, let them stand to drain 
awhile, then place in a coop and put them in a warm 
room to dry. It is well to place several birds in one 
coop, as the steam from the birds helps to keep warm. 
Do not place too near the stove, as they will blister their 
combs, after having been in the water ; place them from 
two and one-half to four feet from the stove, according 
to the heat. In about one hour after washing, you will 
notice the feathers about the head have begun to web, 
and then the hackle-feathers will follow quickly. "" When 
birds are to be shipped the following day, we should 
recommend washing immediately after dinner, then the 
birds will be ready for the early morning trains. When 
you go out in the morning to look at your pets, the fine 
Cochin of yesterday will be almost a stranger to you, 
having improved so much in washing ; and when the 
awards of the - exhibition are made known, you will - feel 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 39 

more than repaid for your trouble. After reaching the 
exhibition, should you find any combs that are dull in 
color, give them a good rubbing with brandy, and the 
bright red will return again. Do not use vinegar, as the 
combs will turn dull again very soon. Should birds 
appear a little dumpish after washing, give one or two 
pepper-corns. 

BLACK COCHINS. 

are another of the self-colored varieties. Most of those 
at the present time grown in this country are faulty in 
plumage in considerable degree. It is a rare thing to 
meet with a brood of chickens of this breed that grow 
to maturity (especially the cockerels), that do not show 
patches or streaks of red or brassy feathers in hackles 
on saddles or wings. 

This is a serious blemish ; but it has been found very 
difficult — and in some strains impossible — to breed this 
imperfect color out of certain birds chosen for their good 
points otherwise. The Standard provides that the hackles 
should be "free from golden or reddish feathers," as also 
the back and wings. But the presence of these colors 
among the general black plumage is not set down as a 
disqualification. 

To breed this variety at its best the clearest "metallic- 
black " fowls, of either sex, alone should be mated to- 
gether. The less of golden and red feathers to be seen 
upon this fowl in the show-pens, the higher the scoring 
of such samples may be looked for among good judges 
of Black Cochins. 

The same general directions in regard to size, build 



40 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

and symmetry applicable to breeding stock of the other 
Cochin varieties will apply to the one now under con- 
sideration. 

There is a neiv breed introduced into America, within 
the last two or three years, called the Langshan fowl — 
which derives its name from -the province of Langshan, 
China, whence it comes into England, and thence into 
this country — which closely resembles the best Black 
Cochins we have here already, but which is a distinct 
species, or variety by itself, there is no doubt. But as 
the Langshan is a Chinese fowl, and as this breed has 
attained a most enviable notoriety in England and France 
within the past five years, we mention it here because of 
its close similarity to the Black Cochin in several of its 
leading features. 

There are as yet but few Langshans in the United 
States, however ; and this variety is not as yet recognized 
in the American Standard at all. So we merely mention 
it now ; and with the brief assertion that those we have 
examined of this stock are very nicely plumed, clear-black 
birds throughout, of good size and proportions, and that 
they breed most accurately, so far as we have seen the 
young ones grown from the originals. We pass on to other 
topics, merely remarking that evidently the same rules, as 
regards plumage, will apply to them as to the Black 
Cochins. 

LIGHT BRAHMAS. 

In breeding this variety, or any other parti-colored 
fowl, it is the extreme of the two styles of feathering, 
dark or light, which must be brought appropriately in 



HO W TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 41 

combination to produce the average happy medium in 
color of cocks and pulllets among the succeeding chicks. 
This is what is meant by proper and judicious mating 

If the Light Brahma cock or cockerel chosen as a 
breeder be a clear, white-bodied bird, for instance, with a 
full, well-defined dark hackle, black wing-flights and black 
tail, such a sire should be placed in connection with hens 
that are equally clean in body-color, but whose neck- 
hackles, wing-tips and tails are much lighter in the mark- 
ing or penciling. And if the hens to be bred from are 
all dark hackled, and similarly on wings and tail, then 
the cock mated to them should wear the light-feathered 
hackle and the extreme white body-color, to be most 
appropriate to such hens. 

It is time thrown away to attempt to breed even- 
colored and finely-penciled Light Brahma chickens from 
any other combination than that now described. Even 
by this method of mating all the chicks will not be so 
uniformly marked as we should like to have them. But 
through this means a majority of the chicks will be well 
marked, of both sexes; and the "culls" to be thrown 
aside on account of imperfect color, will be much less in 
numbers than results from the adoption of any . other 
course within our experience. 

In any case, the sires appears to be the preponderat- 
ing influence in breeding this variety. A well-formed, 
well-penciled, well-colored cock will impress his chief 
characteristics upon his progeny to a very large extent, 
whatever may be the character of the hens with which 
he may habitually consort. But for close, clean breeding, 
and for the reproduction of the highest quality in these 



42 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

birds, the mothers should also possess well-defined and 
positive qualities of superiority as well. 

The time to mate these fowls, with a view to attaining 
the better results, is in late winter — say, in January. 
The best age at which the sexes should be thus mated 
is when the pullets to be bred from are nine to ten 
months old, and these will turn out more satisfactorily if 
coupled with a two-year-old cock. If old hens are used, 
as before remarked in speaking of other breeds, a vigor- 
ous yearling cockerel will serve them advantageously, and 
the union should be made permanently in December, if 
convenient. 

When your fowls are so selected and placed together 
in the breeding-runs, do not disturb the arrangements 
thus made, if you desire to succeed according to your 
best ambition. Changing the cocks from one pen of hens 
to another is not a wise method. If they are kept con- 
stantly together, in quiet, without introducing among them 
strange birds of either sex during the whole breeding 
season, they will do vastly better, and their eggs will 
hatch with much greater uniformity than they will when 
shifted about or experimented with in any way. 

Eight or ten hens or pullets to one male Light Brahma 
will generally be found sufficient for the best results, yet 
the number varies with different cocks. If only a trio 
of hens are used, the majority of the chicks first hatch- 
ed will prove to be male birds, as a rule. The larger 
the number of hens a cock associates with — within ordi- 
nary limits — the more pullet chickens are raised from 
their eggs, so far as we have observed, among the Asiatic 
varieties. 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 43 

DARK BRAHMAS. 

The mating of this breed is a nice operation, to pro- 
duce exactly what is now aimed at by experienced 
fanciers. The Standard of Excellence provides that Dark 
Brahmas shall be "disqualified" by judges in the exhibi- 
tion-pens, if they possess any of the following palpable 
defects, namely : Birds that do not match in the show- 
pen ; those having a comb falling over, on either side ; 
having crooked backs ; wry-tails ; twisted wing-feathers ; 
legs not feathered outside the shanks, and to the extrem- 
ties of the outer toes ; vulture-hocks, etc. All these 
are absolute disqualifications. 

Now, of the many average " good Dark Brahmas " 
which are carefully bred in the United States, from what 
is deemed reliably known stock, there are very few birds 
— more especially among the cocks shown for premiums — 
that are not blemished by some one or more of the 
above-designated defects. It is next to impossible to 
produce these birds completely free from some of these 
imperfections. 

Still, it is accomplished, now and then. And the 
breeders we have referred to have been fortunate, fre- 
quently in placing in their show-coops, at our poultry 
exhibitions, superior specimens, that have deservedly proved 
winners, in the past seven years. 

The pure steel-gray color in the hens of this class, 
entirely free from the brownish cast of plumage that crops 
out in the English-bred birds (imported into America 
since 1866-7), is the true color to be aimed for, in the 
genuine Dark Brahma. And the solid black-breasted cock, 
devoid of any brown or brassy feathers in saddle, hackles 



44 HO W TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

or wing-coverts, is the ever-desirable thing for male birds 
of this species. 

True it is, as we are well informed, that our Standard 
does not fix upon a discoloration of plumage the stigma 
of disqualification, explicitly. Yet in the enumeration or 
description of the requisite feathering of these birds, that 
Standard tells us that the different parts of their plumage 
shall be "black and silvery-white;" "black with an edg- 
ing of white ; " or " of a metallic or greenish-black, fringed 
at the edge with white," etc. No mention in the Stand- 
ard is made of the brown feathers so often seen upon 
the bodies of hens and upon the rear flanks of cocks, 
which might well be pronounced a disqualification — in 
our mature judgment ! 

And wherefore ? 

Because the original "Dark Brahma" fowl — so named 
by Mr. Tegetmeier, high English authority — had no brown 
feathers in its composition ; and the first that was ever 
seen of this blemish among the steel-gray feathering was 
found upon the early importations from England, after 
1866, when the British fanciers had had time to intro- 
duce a cross of the Partridge Cochin upon those first 
sent out there from this country, for the purpose, as 
they have since admitted, of increasing their size. 

But American breeders still cling to their "first love," 
in this respect. And it is the pride of our best fanciers 
to produce the "clear silver-gray" hen and the "solid 
black-breasted cock," in Dark Brahmas — which we deem 
a very laudable and sensible conviction on their part. 

Another excrescence upon the English birds of this 
class, which is seen almost universally upon the first 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 45 

year's product in this country after importing a trio, is 
the "vulture hock." This is properly declared in the 
America?! Standard a disqualification in the show-room. 
And both this and the mixture of brown feathering upon 
the hens' bodies and in the cocks' wings, to which we 
have now referred, should be strenuously avoided in our 
attempts at breeding prize Dark Brahma fowls. 

To succeed in producing birds of this variety that are 
pretty sure to win at our exhibitions, we must begin with 
the cleanest stock-fowls that can be obtained. Such as 
are free from the stain of brown feathering in both cock 
and pullet, and such as also show no vestige of the 
"vulture-hock" upon their shanks, only should be selected 
for breeders. Any others are useless to risk for the 
raising of show birds. 

The lighter the general hue of the plumage may be, 
if evenly penciled, upon the Dark Brahma hens or pullets, 
so that it does not merge into speckled or spotted gray, 
the better, usually, and the safer. Any shade or indica- 
tion of bay or brownish plumage — however faint or 
indistinct — should cause such hen or pullet to be dis- 
carded at once and for ever, as a breeder. 

As in the female, so in the sire. If the Dark Brahma 
cock shows the slightest traces of brown, red or " brassy " 
feathering across his wings, set him aside, as a breeder. 
You do not want him ; and you can do better in your 
selection of a male bird. He should be clear, solid black- 
breasted, and black-flanked also. If the black, fluffy por- 
tion of the thighs are mottled with brown spotting, discard 
him, or the pullets coming after him will surely be brown- 
backed, seven out of every ten of them. 



46 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

As to " penciling " or marking on the hens of this 
variety, there is a choice in every flock ; although, as a 
rule, they will breed pretty accurately, so far as this 
feather -mar king is concerned. A little careful observation 
in this direction will soon teach the breeder what is most 
desirable. The Standard requires the head of the Dark 
Brahma hen to be broad and neatly formed, beak horn- 
color ; comb " pea " and small ; neck-hackles silvery-white 
with each feather clearly striped with black, falling well 
down upon the shoulders. The cock should be "black 
on breast, or slightly mottled with white," — says the 
Standard (not brown), and to this allowance we do not 
object, though we consider "solid black" preferable — 
and upon any other portion of the plumage only "silvery- 
white," or " dead black " is permissible. 

To reproduce these colors in Dark Brahmas, we must 
discard all others mentioned. Choose, then, your sire and 
dam of the steel-gray and pronounced black and white 
plumage only. Treat the chicks as we have recommended 
the Light Brahmas to be treated. Select the choicest 
in size, color and form that you may find in your 
flocks, at three to four months old ; cull out the 
imperfect ones — the deformed, the wry-tailed, the brown- 
stained, the false-combed, the knock-kneed, the vulture- 
hocked and the twisted-winged — of which, do your best, 
you will every season find more or less in some way 
defective — and put the rest upon their extra rations for 
the succeeding winter's show-pens. 

And among the latter, if well tended and cared for, 
as we have suggested, you may have winners — or our 
advice as to their proper breeding is erroneous. 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 47 

PLYMOUTH ROCKS. 

In every yard of Plymouth Rocks the fowls are found 
varying in color, both cocks and hens. Among the former 
a very few are what would be called dark, a considerable 
number medium, and a large number light, or very light, 
so that they may be called light, as a rule. The hens 
are in greatly preponderating numbers, very dark, a few 
lighter, and a very few what might be called light, or 
about the same shade as a dark medium cockerel. 

These light pullets and dark medium cockerels match 
in the pen, and from them are selected the exhibition 
birds. They are desirable, but few ; being few, they are 
in great demand. Breeders wish to mate their stock in 
such manner as to produce the greatest number of these 
light-colored pullets. 

Now, if a certain shade of color could be obtained by 
mating black with white, in fixed proportions, as the 
painter would mix pigments when making a paint to rep- 
resent sky or clouds, there would be no difficulty. The 
Standard of Excellence calls for bluish-gray as the general 
color in both sexes of this breed. There appears three 
reversionary forces, all operating strongly to prevent uni- 
formity in color : first, the ancestral black hen, on that 
side of the house — she stands braced back, and pulling 
with all might and main to make her descendants black 
or dark in plumage and with dark legs. People talk 
about different origins of this breed ; no matter, it seems 
plain that a thoroughbred black hen is back of the breed, 
with a line stretching all the way down, and she controls 
the feathers of the pullets. She has yielded very much — 
has made a compromise with the Dominique male pro- 



48 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

genitor in regard to color — yet she holds on to this 
reversionary influence strongly. 

Next is the Dominique cock — the first cross. We can 
imagine him, a light-colored bird, braced back and pulling 
on the line of descent to make his cockerel descendants 
light colored, like himself. We can not find that he has 
changed in color a particle by the union. He was light 
colored when he commenced, and he is light colored now. 
He has only changed in size, shape and comb. The 
reason of this may be that male stock getters of light 
color have been generally used. Whereas, on the other 
side, all the black pullets have been thrown out, and the 
darkest pullets have not been used as breeders. Every 
year that our light cockerels are used in succession tends 
to fix the breed light on this side. Every year in which 
the lightest-colored pullets are used successively tends to 
fix a lighter shade on the female side. The light-colored 
cockerel and the black hen draw in opposite directions. 
Why can not the Plymouth Rocks be so changed by 
breeding as to approximate, and finally draw together ? 

This can only be accomplished by patience and effort 
in the right direction. It never will be done by persist- 
ently always using a light cock. 

The change must be gradual. It will be advisable for 
the breeder to make three matings. In the first place, all 
the lightest cockerels and all the darkest pullets should 
be rejected as unfit to breed. Then much attention 
should be given to the color of legs. It is very important 
that a breeding cockerel should have not only legs yellow, 
but very yellow legs. The pullets at first can not be 
found in considerable numbers with pure yellow legs, but 



HOW TO WIN .POULTRY PRIZES. 49 

After culling out all that show glaring imperfections, 
and those very light or very dark, take of the remainder 
those pullets that are the darkest and mate them with 
one of the lightest cockerels not near akin. This mating 
will not produce exhibition cockerels, and the majority of 
the pullets will be about the color of the dams — the 
lightest will be useful. 

Then . take those pullets a few shades lighter than 
those of the first mating and mate them with a medium 
colored cockerel. This mating will produce a good per 
cent, of standard chicks, more especially cockerels. 

Lastly, place the lightest-colored pullets with a dark 
medium cockerel. In this mating the sexes are nearly of 
one color. Every breeder should make such a mating as 
this every year. We have conversed with several breeders 
who have made this practice without getting black chicks, 
and we think it is only by this system of mating that 
this breed may be rendered uniform in color. The mat- 
ing of extreme colors should be discontinued entirely as 
soon as may be, and the breeder should have in view 
the bringing about a uniformity of color in the sexes. 

There is another reversionary tendency, to which we 
have hinted, a tinge or color of brass and brown feathers. 
If a flock of Plymouth Rocks are permitted to breed 
indiscriminately, they will nearly all be affected by this 
impurity of plumage in a few years. The brassy and 
brown colors seem to come in easily, and it is only by 
selection that they may be kept out. 

We are waiting for the coming Plymouth Rock 
cock, with dark medium plumage, distinctly marked, that 
shall have prepotency to stamp his color on his chicks. 



50 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

especially of his own sex; a "Duke of York" that shall 
found a strain and crowd the light cockerels off the 
track. If the sexes are ever to breed uniform in color, 
it will undoubtedly be owing to some such extraordinary 
specimen of either sex. Some one may say, we must 
follow nature , Plymouth Rock cocks are naturally light. 
True, but nature sometimes appears to make a new 
departure in this business. A great many curious things 
have been done with feathers. Witness, also, the changes 
that have been already produced in our domestic poultry. 
And can we not vary the color of the Plymouth Rock 
cock ? Mr. Darwin says : " When man is the selecting 
agent, we clearly see that the two elements of change 
( man and nature ) are distinct ; variability is in some 
manner excited, but it is the will of man which accumu- 
lates the variations in certain directions." 

Aside from plumage, the symmetry, size, breast and 
body are made prominent in the Standard of Excellence. 
Symmetry is the fit proportion of parts. A Dorking 
may be symmetrical, also a Cochin, yet the two differ 
very materially in shape. Twelve points are assigned to 
symmetry in Plymouth Rocks. This is not for a Dorking 
shape or a Cochin shape, but a well-proportioned Plymouth 
Rock. Every year people are learning the distinctive 
shape of this breed. The chromos and engravings made 
to represent specimens help to fix true ideas of their 
shape or proper symmetry. It is not easy to write a 
description of the symmetry of this breed. One can 
better learn this at exhibitions, where the best specimens 
may be seen. It would be very bad policy to breed 
from a cock having a very long neck and short legs, or 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 51 

having legs very long and standing near together. The 
comb is very liable to be crooked, carried too far back, 
pimply, or irregular in its serrations. A small comb, 
thick at the base, is apt to be free from faults, while a 
large comb is generally uneven, lopped, or has kinks 
and sprigs. These sprigs are only the reversion toward 
the rose-comb of the Dominique ancestry. 

SILVER SPANGLED HAMBURGS. 

All the varieties of Hamburgs, being rather small, and 
active in their habits, need considerable room for exercise ; 
in fact a small breed of fowls need a larger space and 
better opportunity for exercise than those of larger size 
and slower movement. Lively birds do not stand close 
confinement well — pining, or, at least, showing the ill 
effect in general health. A large run may be desirable 
for any breed, but it is especially necessary for Hamburgs, 
if they are to show their very best condition. 

If we select breeding stock, we want the birds in the 
very healthiest condition at the time of laying eggs. 
Such beautiful fowls, such fine layers, should not be 
stived up in very small quarters and suffer from neglect 
of cleanliness, a poor ventilation or none ; for although 
they are delicate and beautiful, they are not proof against 
those ills that neglected fowls become heir to. 

We will first mention some distinct parts or qualities 
that are common to the six varieties, and should be as 
nearly perfect as possible in every specimen, male or female, 
used for breeding. 

All Hamburgs have rose-combs ; and as this feature is 
prominent, those who are beginning to breed them should 



52 HO IV TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

have a clear idea of what a good rose-comb is, that they 
may not, in selecting breeders, unwittingly cultivate what 
would depreciate the value of their stock as breeders or 
show-birds- 
it should be square in front, not bowing or irregular, 
neither jutting over the eyes. The proper color is bright 
red, as this indicates health and a rich, lively blood ; 
and it should be firm, not slouching to one side, and it 
should be even, the points of equal height, with no 
depression in the middle. From the part directly above 
the eyes it should narrow back, terminating in a spike, 
only slightly inclined upward. 

This description may answer for the combs of hens, 
except as they are comparatively small. 

The ear-lobes of both sexes and all six varieties should 
be white, not semi-transparent, not hanging loosely, but 
fitting closely, and with the lower part nicely rounded ; 
not large — the ear-lobes of the hens small. The wattles 
should not present a heavy appearance, but should be 
thin and handsomely rounded. 

The form of our breeding-cock should be peculiarly 
graceful, with full breast, tapering neck carried well back, 
and having a flowing hackle, abundant tail-coverts and 
long, splendidly curved sickles. 

Speaking now more particularly of the Silver Spangled 
variety, in selecting breeding-stock there should be careful 
attention given to the ground color, which should be 
pure white, free from yellow tinge or mossing. This pure 
silvery white should appear in all parts of the neck, 
breast and body. 

And now for the ornamental markings of the cock. 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 53 

The lower hackle-feathers and those of the saddle should 
both end with a black spangle, not necessarily sharply 
defined, but somewhat rayed in appearance ; the plumage 
of the back, also, should have spangles of black on the 
end of each feather. These spangles are more apparent 
when feathers are examined separately, and the more 
firmly feathers are in their places, the better. Feathers 
loosely set on do not show the starry or rayed spangles 
to advantage. The feathers of the breast and body should 
each end with a large moon or spangle, round, greenish- 
black in color, sharply defined and separate to appear- 
ance. When the feathers on the breast do not hold their 
proper places, or when the spangles are oblong, they join 
each other in patches of black, thus injuring the appear- 
ance of the cock very materially. Aside from the sym- 
metry of the bird, everything depends on the well-defined 
spangles in these parts, each feather firmly in its place. 
All the wing-feathers should end with a black spangle, 
those of the secondaries half-moon shape. The full-moon 
spangles of the wing-coverts are very important, as when 
in perfection of form and arrangement they present two 
distinct bars of greenish-black very pleasing to the eye. 
The tail-feathers on the outside, coming in view, pure 
white, with bold, large, well-defined greenish-black spangles 
at the tips ; tail-coverts same, and sickles long, pure 
white and nicely curved, and with a black spangle at the 
tip. 

A cock of this description, or as near to it as may 
be, matched with standard hens, is the best we can do 
in the way of mating. One cock may prove himself 
remarkable in producing finely-marked cockerels ; another 



54 HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

may get valuable pullets. Such peculiarities, though they 
may be unaccountable, should be noted, and the same 
fowls used for breeding the succeeding year with the same 
mating. After the first annual moulting, the ground-color 
of this variety is very liable to become more or less 
tinged with yellow, but no bird should be used for breed- 
ing that is not well spangled in all parts, not excepting 
thighs and fluff. Legs, slate-blue, according to Standard. 

GOLDEN SPANGLED HAMBURGS. 

The Golden Spangled breeding-cock should have a 
hackle golden-bay, with a black stripe down the middle 
of each feather ; back dark bay, each feather tipped with 
a black starry spangle ; the color of the breast and body 
rich bay, each feather having a black, round spangle at 
the tip, said spangles not to overlap each other, but 
distinct, and showing the bay color between and with- 
out white edging ; the wing-bow very dark bay, each 
feather with black spangle ; wing-coverts with black span- 
gles at the end of each feather, forming two regular and 
beautiful bars ; primaries and secondaries, inner-webs black ? 
outer-webs bay, the secondaries ending with a crescent of 
black ; tail and sickle-feathers black, with greenish center, 
which should pervade all the color of the bird. 

Such a cock mated with hens having ground color of 
golden-bay and with similar markings, especially regular 
wing-bars of such glossy black, is the best that can be 
done to produce desirable cockerels and pullets. If the 
ground-color of the back and wing-bows of the cock is 
very dark reddish-bay or maroon color, his male progeney 
will be most satisfactory. 



HOW TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 55 

GOLDEN PENCILED HAMBURGS. 

The Golden Penciled Hamburg breeding-cock requires 
but a short description, being plain in his dress, compared 
with his spangled cousins. The tail should be black ; 
sickle-feathers and tail-coverts black, each feather having 
a narrow, well-defined border of bay. The primaries 
reddish-bay on the outside web and black on inside The 
inside webs of the secondaries should be penciled with 
black — the whole plumage, except tail and wings, clear 
reddish -bay. 

This brief description of the Golden Penciled cock 
will answer for the Silver Penciled, only substituting white 
for bay in the color. It is only necessary to mate with 
standard hens and breed a large number of chicks, in 
order to select birds for exhibition. The fancier having 
a good strain and great numbers to select from has the 
best prospect of success as a prize-winner. Only a small 
per cent, approach nearly to perfection, while the plumage 
of many will show mossing, lacing or marbling in the 
ground-colors. 

WHITE HAMBURGS. 

Of White Hamburgs we have only to mate standard 
specimens, avoiding those showing a yellow tinge in the 
plumage, which is a fault common to all white fowls, 
more or less, and in many cases is caused, or much 
aggravated, by exposure to hot sunshine. We refer the 
reader to our instructions in another part of this book 
with regard to the importance of careful preparation, by 
washing, of all white fowls intended for exhibition. 

The legs of this variety are flesh-color. 



56 HO W TO WIN POULTRY PRIZES. 

BLACK HAMBURGS 

exhibited at the shows have been larger than the other 
varieties, and in some instances of different shape, approach- 
ing nearly that of the Black Spanish, having longer legs 
and not being so full breasted. Narrow-breasted birds 
are apt to be squirrel-tailed. 

Breeding-stock should have the true . Hamburg shape. 

The combs of Black Hamburgs are liable to be ill- 
shapen or loose, owing, probably, to Spanish blood formerly 
introduced for the purpose of securing white ear-lobes. 
In selecting breeders it is important to avoid white in 
the face, red feathers in the hackle or saddle and long 
legs. 






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